Duplication apparatus for continuous strips

ABSTRACT

In the preferred embodiment, a supply balance bar equalizes clutch pad engagement pressure, between each of a pair of housing supported supply spools, initially mounting a master and a second continuous strip to be pulled therefrom, between a pair of housing carried entry rollers into surface engagement with each other and through a process zone in precise registry where a transfer of information occurs, by a driven pair of housing carried exit rollers, and then separated to be wound on respective housing supported takeup reels, driven by respective driven rotating sprockets, through clutch pads pressurized for slipping engagement by a takeup balance bar to insure proper tensioning of the strips. The balance bar also mounts indicating means engaged by the clutch pads to indicate the tension in the strips. An alternative preferred embodiment includes a pair of supply reels from which the continuous strips are pulled, into engagement with each other by driven entry rollers to be pulled through the process zone by exit rollers driven by a faster rotating driven sprocket through slipping clutch pads, which tension the strips in the process zone in response to adjustment of a control spring, and after the exit rollers the strips are separated to be wound on respective driven takeup reels. The alternative preferred embodiment also includes overrunning clutches for the exit rollers for straightening a bight in either strip in the process zone.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Sam Schwartz Los Angeles, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 1,356 [22] Filed Jan. 8, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [73] Assignee Extek Microsystems, Inc.

Von Nuys, Calif.

[54] DUPLTCATION APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS STRIPS 14 Claims. 15 Drawing Figs.

52 us. Cl 242/208, 242/180, 179/100.2 E 51 1nt.Cl 1311b 15/32, G03b 1/04 [50] Field of Search .L 242/55, 180,181,201-209;179/100.2 E

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,560,234 7/1951 Masterson.... 179/1002 E 2,705,599 4/1955 McCollough 242/202 3,037,090 5/1962 Bouzemburg 242/ 180 X 3,156,424 11/1964 Namenyi-Katz.. 242/180 4/1965 Smith 179/1002 E Primary Examinerl.eonard D. Christian AttorneyMiketta, Glenny, Poms and Smith ABSTRACT: In the preferred embodiment, a supply balance bar equalizes clutch pad engagement pressure, between each of a pair of housing supported supply spools, initially mounting a master and a second continuous strip to be pulled therefrom, between a pair of housing carried entry rollers into surface engagement with each other and through a process zone in precise registry where a transfer of information occurs, by a driven pair of housing carried exit rollers, and then separated to be wound on respective housing supported takeup reels, driven by respective driven rotating sprockets, through clutch pads pressurized for slipping engagement by u takeup balance bar to insure proper tensioning of the strips. The balance bar also mounts indicating means engaged by the clutch pads to indicate the tension in the strips.

An alternative preferred embodiment includes a pair of supply reels from which the continuous strips are pulled, into engagement with each other by driven entry rollers to be pulled through the process zone by exit rollers driven by a faster rotating driven sprocket through slipping clutch pads, which tension the strips in the process zone in response to adjustment of a control spring, and after the exit rollers the strips are separated to be wound on respective driven takeup reels. The alternative preferred embodiment also includes overrunning clutches for the exit rollers for straightening a bight in either strip in the process zone.

PATENTED AUG] 7197! SHEET 2 OF 5 IN VE/VTOE 5137M m/wme 7-2 5/ DUPLICATION APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS STRIPS BACKGROUND OF THE'INVENTION This invention relates to winding and reeling devices, and more particularly to a duplication apparatus which equalizes the tension in master and second continuous strips passing from supply reels into process zone and then wound on takeup reels to insure precise registry between the strips in the process zone.

With the advent of widespread use of microfilm, there has developed a need for a fastand accurate film duplication apparatus. Such a duplication apparatus must transfer information from an original or master microfilm to a blank or duplicate light sensitive film quickly and accurately, without distortion. With such a duplication apparatus, microfilm companies could increase their volume of production, manufacturers could spread information; via microfilm to more people, computer generated film can be instantly returned to the negative form after the apparatus has copied it, libraries can duplicate highly used reference materialsfor multiple distribution and publishing companies can have high speed reproduction of literature, reference materials and specialized information available at low cost to particular .grou-psof individuals. In short, there are many uses for an accurate and'fast film duplication apparatus. 7

The uses of such a duplication apparatus are not limited to films alone, but may be expanded to include the reproduction of any information-carrying continuous. strip. for example, magnetic tape could be duplicated by providing .a suitable process zone in such an apparatus. I I l A One method of film duplicat ng is to place the master film and the duplicate film in contact with each other in a process zone. The duplicate light-sensitive is then exposed through the master film to form an identical image on the blank film. As long as the master film and-theduplicate film remain in contact without any relative motion therebetween, the copy will be an exact duplicate of the master film- However, with long rolls of film, to physically attach the two films together for exposure would be impossible and so only a short section of film at a time is exposed. Conventionally, the roll of master film and the roll of duplicate film are wound on individual supply rollers from which they are pulled to be drawn together for surface contact therebetween to pass through a processing zone. In the processing zone, the blank film is exposed to produce a duplicate, After the duplicate is produced, the t fi m ho eav th Proc ss one where t ey are p r ed to e wound on i dividual ta up r e With both the master and the blank f lm moving from separate supply reels and returning to separate ta eup reels, there is a Prob em of maintain g th film i Pe ec con a and precise registry through the process zone, The problem se a s t n i du s pply re and h t k up reels, exert different forces on the respective film strips, producing a difference in tension in the respective Strips. The different tensioning of the film strips may Caus 11? Stretching and s ipp so h moves one film st ip re at e th other. P d c g an un ptabloo py- In order to correct the differences in tension, between the te a d eco blank m st p a d the e y btai Pfi feet contact and precise registry therebetween, an improved nu s st p dupl ca i app atus must be pr vid which substantially balances and tequalizes the tension in the strips.

Therefore, it a primary object of this invention to provide n imp e c n i ou st ip dup ic i app r tu which q izes the tensio t een t e ma te aod se ond c u s t p n e proc s one ther of to-pio ide aim an accurate duplicate continuous strip,

Other and additional objects of this invention are to provide a ntinuous strip up ation appa atus wi h upp y ee which exert equalized drag on the strips being pulled therefrom to provide takeup reels which exert equalized pull on the strips being wound thereon, to provide entry rollers and exit rollers for the process: zone which exert a constant equal tension on the engaged strips passing therethrough, to provide an indicating means indicating the amount of tension on the strips, to provide a torque control means for varying the amount of tension in the strips, and to provide overrunning clutches for straightening any bight in the strips that might occur in the process zone SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The improved duplication apparatus for continuous strips in an exemplary embodiment includes means for rotatably driving a pair of takeup reels, and pairs of entry rollers and exit rollers defining a process zone, torque-transmitting means frictionally interconnecting'the drive means and either the takeup reels, the entry rollers, or exit rollers; and torquecontrol means for varying the amount of torque transmitted through the torque-transmitting means so as to control the tension in both the master and duplicate continuous strips being drawn thereby from a respective supply reels between a pair of entry rollers into the process zone where the transfer of information occurs and then being wound on a respective takeup reel. One preferred embodiment includes a balance bar having opposed ends in engagement with the torque-transmitting means on the supply reels to balance the drag force exerted by the supply reels on the continuous strips and a balance bar having opposite ends in engagement with the torque-transmitting means causing the drive means to drive the takeup reels equally to exert an equal pull on the continuous films. The preferred embodiment also includes indicating means indicating the amount of tension in the continuous strips.

The alternative preferred embodiment includes driven entry rollers and a faster driven sprocket, transmitting torque to the exit rollers through the torque transmitting means to tension the continuous strips equally between the entry and exit rollers in the process zone to maintain the master and duplicate continuous strips in perfect contact and precise registry. The alternative preferred embodiment also includes overriding clutch means for straightening a bight that might occur in one of the strips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one preferred embodiment of the improved continuous strip duplication apparatus according to this invention, taken from the inside of the housing to show the details of the construction of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view taken along the plane II-II of FIG. 1 looking upwardly at the lower takeup reel and related apparatus of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the plane III-III of FIG. 1 showing the details of the adjustable central biasing assembly of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the plane IV-IV of FIG. 1 showing the details of the supply torque control means of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;'

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the plane V-V of FIG. 2 showing the details of construction of the takeup balancing bar, individual torque-adjusting assemblies and related apparatus of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side-elevational view taken along the plane VI-VI of FIG. 5 showing the details of the construction of the balance bar, the indicating means, and related apparatus of'the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the improved continuous strip duplication apparatus according to this invention, taken from the inside of the housing to show the details of the construction of the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the portion of FIG. 7 enclosed in the rectangle, showing the details of the entry and exit roller shafts and related apparatus of the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the plane IX-IX of FIG. 8 showing the details of the entry rollers, the entry roller shafts, entry drive means, entry torque-transmitting means and related apparatus of the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along the plane X-X of FIG. 9 showing the details of the entry torque-transmitting means of the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an end view taken along the plane XI-XI of FIG. 9 showing the details of construction of the entry drive means of the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the plane XII-XII of FIG. 8 showing the details of the exit rollers, the exit roller shafts, the exit drive means, the exit torquetransmitting means, the exit control means, and related apparatus of the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is an end cross-sectional view taken along the plane XIII-XIII of FIG. 12 showing the details of the exit drive means of the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is an end cross-sectional view taken along the plane XIV-XIV of FIG. 12 showing the details of the clutch pad of the torque-transmitting means of the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane XV-XV of FIG. 12 showing the details of the exit rollers, the exit roller shafts, and the overrunning clutches therebetween, of the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the continuous strip duplication apparatus according to this invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The duplication apparatus 10 contains a process zone 11 where the images on an original or master continuous strip 12 are exactly transferred to a duplicate continuous strip 13 which is initially blank, to make a duplicate of the original or master continuous strip 12. In the duplication process, the original or master continuous strip 12 must be kept in perfect contact and precise registry with the duplicate continuous strip 13 that the two strips are moved through the process zone 11 in order to produce a precise and accurate copy.

As seen in both FIGS. 1 and 7, the continuous strip duplication apparatus 10 generally includes a housing 15 of which only a portion of a wall is shown for clarity. The housing 15 rotatably mounts adjacent the left hand end, upper and lower supply reel shafts 16 and 16' supporting upper and lower supply reels l7 and 17' releasably lockingly supported thereby; upper and lower entry roller shafts 18 and 18' at the left-hand end of the process zone 1 1 carrying upper and lower entry rollers 19 and 19' thereon; upper and lower exit roller shafts 20 and 20 at the right hand end of the process zone 11, carrying upper and lower exit rollers 21 and 21'; and, upper and lower takeup reel shafts 22, 22' adjacent the right-hand end of the housing 15 and releasably lockingly supporting upper and lower takeup reels 23,23.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the lower takeup reel shaft 22' and lower takeup reel 23 are shown as being illustrative of a typical reel mounting. The typical reel mounting includes an opening 25 in the housing 15 through which is inserted a flanged bearing sleeve 26 with a threaded body. A nut 27 is screwed onto the sleeve 26 to secure the sleeve 26 to the housing 15. The sleeve 26 contains bearings (not shown) through which the reel shaft 22 is passed to protrude at both ends from the sleeve 26. The outer end 28 of the reel shaft 22 is threaded to receive a thumb nut 29. The thumb nut 29 releasably secures the reel 23 to the reel shaft 22 to rotate therewith. The inner end of the shaft 22 contains structure which is part of this invention and so will be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the entry roller shafts I8, 18' and entry rollers 19, 19 are shown as being illustrative of a typical roller mounting. The typical roller mounting includes an upper and lower pair of openings 31, 31' through the housing 15 for the upper and lower roller shafts 18, 18. On the interior of housing 15 over the opening 31, 31' is mounted flanged bearing housings 32, 32 containing ball bearings 33 through which the shafts l8, 18 extend to be rotatively carried thereby. The outer ends 34, 34' of the shafts 18, 18 protrude out of the housing 15 to receive the rollers 19, 19 thereon. A key and slot combination 35 secures each roller 19 to the respective shaft 18. The outer ends 34, 34' contain pins 36 36' extending into openings in a cover 37 in the alternative embodiment. The cover 37 substantially encloses the rollers 19, 19 and is mounted to the housing 15. The inner ends of the shafts 18, 18' contain structure which is part of this invention and so will be described in detail later on.

The master continuous strip 12 in initially wound on the upper supply reel 17 to pass therefrom between the upper and lower entry rollers 19, 19 through the process zone 11 between the upper and lower exit rollers 21, 21 to be wound on the upper takeup reel 23. The duplicate continuous strip 13 is initially wound on the lower supply reel 17' and passes therefrom between the upper and lower entry rollers 19, 19' through the process zone 11 between the upper and lower exit rollers 21, 21' to be wound upon the lower takeup reel 23. In operation, the master and duplicate continuous strips 12 and 13 simultaneously pass individually from respective supply reels l7, 17' to meet and pass through the process zone 11 in perfect contact and precise registry before being separated to be wound individually on respective takeup reels 23, 23'. The improvements according to this invention in the duplication apparatus 10 insures that the original or master continuous strip 12 and the duplicate continuous strip 13 are maintained in precise registry through the process zone l1 to obtain accurate duplication.

Generally, the improvements according to this invention comprise the provision of means 45 for rotatably driving the pair of takeup reel shafts 22, 22 and at least one of the pairs of roller shafts I8, 18' and 20, 20 with at least one of the lastmentioned pairs of shafts 18, 20 and 22 being interconnected with the drive means 45; torque transmitting means frictionally interconnecting the drive means 45 and another one of the last three-mentioned pairs of shafts, 18, 20, and 22; and torque control means for varying the amount of torque transmitted to the pair of frictionally driven shafts so as to control the tension in the continuous strips 12 and 13 as the strips are drawn through the process zone 11 to maintain the strips 12 and 13 in the required precise registry. The improve ments according to this invention also may include indicating means for indicating the tension in the continuous strips 12 and 13, and overrunning clutch means between one of the rollers and the corresponding shaft to permit the one roller to rotate faster than the other roller in its normal direction of rotation to straighten a bight in one of the continuous strips 12 and I3, insuring the perfect contact and precise registry required of the strips.

Referring now to either of the embodiments generally shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the drive means 45 is shown for rotatably driving the pair of takeup reel shafts 22, 22' and for driving at least one other pair of the entry roller shafts 18, 18 or the exit roller shafts 20, 20'. The drive means 45 includ s a conventional electric motor 46 mounted to the housing 15 and having an output shaft 47 carrying a sprocket 48 for receiving a toothed belt 49. The belt 49 extends from the sprocket 48 upwardly around the upper takeup reel drive means or sprocket 50 rotatably mounted on a bearing SI (see FIG. 5)

Y on the upper takeup reelshaft 22; down around the roller 46 in a continuous path. As best seen in FIG. 12, the upper and lower exit roller shafts 20, 20' have nonrotatably mounted thereto interconnected gears 56 and 56' to insure equal and opposite rotation of the upper and lower exit rollers 21, 21'. Likewise, in FIG. 9, the upper and lower entry roller shafts 13, 18' have interconnected gears 57, 57' thereon to again insure equal and opposite rotation of the upper and lower entry rollers 18, 18'. The belt, 49, while shown as being a toothed belt, could be a V-belt, chain, or any other means of transferring rotary motion from the motor 46 to the takeup reels 23 and the exit rollers 21. The rotation of the motor rotatably drives, via the belt 49, the upper and lower takeup drive means or sprockets 50, 50' and the roller drive means or sprocket 52.

In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6, one of the three last-mentioned pairs of shafts 18, 20, and 22 are interconnected with the drive means, namely the exit roller shaft 20' of pair 20, 20'. The apparatus is provided with torquetransmitting means 70 (see FIG. 5) for frictionally interconnecting the drive means 45 and another one of the three lastmentioned pairs of shafts 18, and 22. The other one of the last three mentioned pairs of shafts 18, 20 and 22 in this preferred embodiment is the pair of takeup reel shafts 22, 22'.

As is seen best in FIG. 5, the torque-transmitting means 70 of this preferred embodiment includes clutch pads 71 made of any suitable material of which the materials felt has been found to be very well suited. The right-hand clutch pad 71 is between the takeup drive means or sprockets 50, 50' and washer-shaped caps 72, 72' on the inner end of the upper and lower takeup reel shafts 22, 22'. The left-hand clutch pad 71 is.

between the takeup drive means or sprockets 50, 50' and a laterally restrained disc 73 to be described in detail later. As the roller drive means or sprockets 50, 50' rotate, the clutch pads 71 engage the sprockets 50, 50 to frictionally intercon nect them with the washer-shaped caps 72, 72' and the discs 73. The pressure between the disc 73 and the cap 72 determines the slippage between the roller drive means or sprockets 50, 50' and the washer-shaped caps 72, 72', and thus the speed and torque applied to the takeup reels 23, 23' to tension the strips 12 and 13.

The preferred embodiment of the duplication apparatus 10 is provided with torque control means 80 for varying the amount of torque transmitted to the frictionally driven upper and lower takeup reel shafts 22, 22' so as to control the tension in the continuous strips 12 and 13 through the process zone 11. In the first embodiment, such torque control means 80 generally includes upper and lower individual torque adjusting assemblies 81 consisting of a threaded stud 82 mounted in the inner end of each takeup reel shaft 22, 22' and extending axially therefrom to position a spring 83 between the washer-shaped caps 72, 72' and spring seat 84 secured to the stud by locknuts 85. The individual torque adjusting as sembly 81 biases the washer-shaped cap 72 axially to push the clutch pads 71 into the sprocket 50-, and the amount of biasing is adjustable by loosening or tightening the locknuts 83'', thereby varying the amount of torque transmitted by the clutch pads 71. v

The torque control means 80 of the first preferred embodiment also includes a balance bar 90 extending between the upper and lower takeup reel shafts 22, 22'. The ends of the balance bar 90 are located between the upper and lower discs 73, 73' and the inside wall of the housing 15.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the balance bar 90 has a cutout 91 in its lower end to fit around the lower takeup reel shaft 22', and an upper opening 92 to fit around the upper takeup reel shaft 22. The ends of the balance bar 90 act to restrain the disc 73, 73' axially and both are slid-able laterally relative to the clutch pads 71 to increase or decrease the force between the clutch pads 71 and the upper and lower takeup drive means or sprocket 50. The lower disc 73 has a notch 93 into which protrudes a pin 94 from the balance bar 90 to prevent the lower disc 73 from rotating. Pins 95 in the balance bar 90 bear against the discs 73, 73' to give a limited area bearing surface therebetween for a purpose which will appear later.

The torque control means also includes an adjustable central biasing assembly 100. The adjustable central biasing assembly is best seen in FIG. 3 and includes a threaded shaft 101 rotatably mounted through the housing 15 with a knob 102 on one end and a threaded spring-seat 103 on the other end. The spring-seat 103 mounts a biasing spring 104 extending from the spring seat 103 to a cavity 105 centrally located in the balance bar 90. The biasing spring 104 biases the balance bar 90 to the right. The threaded spring seat 103 moves axially in response to movement of the knob 102 to increase or decrease the biasing of the spring 104.

Once the upper an lower individual torque adjusting assemblies 81 have been tightened sufficiently, to slightly compress the springs 83, the balance bar 90 acts to balance the pressure applied thereby, equally between the clutch pads 71 of the upper and lower takeup reel shafts 22, 22'. Besides the balancing function, the balance bar 90 also adds adjustability to the force on the upper and lower clutch pads 71 by adjusting the central biasing assembly 100. Adjustment of the central biasing assembly 100 changes the slipping engagement between the torque-transmitting means 70 and the upper and lower sprockets 50, 50' to vary the pull exerted on the continuous strips 12 and 13 while simultaneously balancing the pull therebetween.

A similar torque control means 00 is provided for the upper and lower supply reel shafts 16, 16' to brake the rotation of the shafts 16, 16' and thereby the supply reels 17, 17'. As a braking function is involved the supply torque control means is slightly different than the takeup torque control means 80. For the sake of brevity, only the differences will be described in detail and the similarities will be referred to broadly.

The supply torque control means 110, does not need the torque-transmitting means 70, and so it is omitted. Basically, the supply torque control means 110 includes the balancing bar 90 and, the adjustable central biasing assembly 100 thereon and the individual torque-adjusting assemblies 81. As best seen in FIG. 4 the major differences of the supply torque control means 110 are that the clutch pads 71 are located between the washer-shaped caps '72 and an annular member 111 mounted around the upper and lower supply reel shafts 16, 16' on a bearing 74, 74'. The annular members 111 have apertures 112 into which pins 113 from the discs 73, 73 extend to lock the two together.

The supply torque control means 110 operates exactly as the takeup torque control means 80 except that the function performed thereby is to equalize and selectively change the braking force applied to the supply reels 17, 17'. Such force is of course applied to the continuous strips 12 and 13 to uniformly tension them. The master continuous strip 12 and the second continuous strip 13 as they are pulled from the upper and lower supply reels 17, 17 respectively, are equally tensioned by the braking action of the supply control means 110, to pass between the entry rollers 19 in contact with each other. While the tension in the strips 12 and 13 caused by the braking action is not always of the same magnitude during unwinding of the film due to the continuous reduction of the diameter of the strips 12 and 13 on the reels 17, 17', until the tension is always equal between the two strips 12 and 13.

The equalized tension in the two strips 12 and 13 as they pass through the process zone 11 in perfect contact insures that the strips 12 and 13 will be maintained in precise registry as they pass through the zone 11. After leaving the process zone by passing between driven exit rollers 21, 21, the strips 12 and 13 separate to be wound on respective takeup reels 23, 23'. The takeup torque control means 80 equalizes the force applied to the strips 12 and 13 to prevent any slippage therebetween from occurring while the strips are still in contact. Again the force applied to the strips 12 and 13 is not always of the same magnitude due to the continuous increasing diameter of the strips 12 and 13 on the reels 23, 23, but the tension is always equal between the two strips 12 and 13. Thus, the improved duplication apparatus 10 according to the first preferred embodiment equally tensions both the master continuous strip 12 and the duplicate continuous strip 13 from the supply reel 17 to the takeup reels 23 to insure the precise registry therebetween required for accurate duplication.

In the first preferred embodiment, there may be provided indicating means 120 as best seen in FIGS. and 6 which generally includes the upper disc 73 rotatably mounted on bearing 51, spring means 121 between the rotatable upper disc 73 and the balance bar 90 and switch means 130 on the balance bar 90 and operated by rotation of the disc 73. The indicating means 120 is provided for both the supply reels 17 and the takeup reels 21 but as the indicating means is generally the same for both, only one description will be given.

The spring means 121 includes a cutout 122 in the upper end of the balancing bar 90 and an aperture 123 in the bar 90 at the end of the cutout 122. A slotted rod 124 extends through the aperture 123 but is restrained from going completely therethrough by locknuts 125. The slotted end of the rod 124 contains one end of a spring 126 located in the cutout 122 and extending to the disc 73 to be secured through aperture 127 to bias the disc counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 6.

The switch means 130 includes notches 131 in the periphery of the disc 73 and microswitches 132 mounted on the balance bar 90. The microswitches 132 each have outwardly biased operating pins 133 which drop into the notches 131 as the notches pass thereby.

The spring 121 biases the disc 73 to a neutral or first position, and the engagement between the rotating clutch pads 71 and the surface of the disc 73 rotate the disc against the action of the spring 121 to a second position. The amount of rotation and therefore the location of the second position is dependent upon the strength of the spring 121, and the pressure applied to the clutch pads 71 by the balance bar 90 and the individual torque-adjusting assemblies 81. The location of the second position for any given torque applied to the discs is adjustable by means of the locknuts 125. The microswitches 132 are suitably located so that the pins 133 are located in the notches 131 when the disc 73 is in the second position.

As is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the torque to move the takeup disc 73 comes from the upper drive means or sprocket 50 through the engagement of the pads 71 therewith. The engagement of the disc 73 with the pins 95 on the balance bar 90 does not significantly retard the rotation of the takeup disc 73, due to the limited area bearing surface therebetween.

Although not shown, the torque to move the supply disc 73 comes from the rotation of the upper washer-shaped cap 72 through the engagement of the pads 71 therewith. Again the pins 95 on the balance bar 90 do not significantly retard the rotation of the supply disc 73.

As the duplication apparatus is started, after having been properly adjusted, if need be, the rotation thereof moves the disc 73 from the first position to the second position where the disc 73 remains until the machine is shut off. When the disc 73 reaches the second position, the operating pins 133 drop into the notches 131 and an indicating light (not shown) goes off.

If the torque applied to the disc 73 is below a predetermined lower limit indicating too little tension in the continuous strips 12 and 13, then the disc 73 is not rotated to the second position but remains somewhere between the first and second positions. In such a case at least one of the pins 133 never drops into the respective notch 13 1 and the indicating light (not shown) remains on until the situation if corrected by increasing the biasing ofthe central biasing assembly 106.

Conversely, if the torque applied to the disc 73 is of a predetermined upper limit indicating too much tension in the continuous strips, the disc 73 rotates past the second position. In such case the pins 133 drop into the notches 131 only to have at least one of the pins 133 rise out of the respective notch 131 to reactivate the indicating light. This situation can be corrected by decreasing the biasing of the central biasing assembly 100 as previously explained.

Thus indicating means 120 provides an indication to the operator of the apparatus 10 that the tension in the continuous strips 12 and 13 are within prescribed upper and lower limits.

An alternative preferred embodiment of the improved duplication apparatus 10 solves the problem of obtaining precise registry and perfect contact between the master continuous strip 12 and the duplicate continuous strip 13 by applying a controlled tension to the strips between the entry rollers l7 and the exit rollers 18 in the process zone 11. The alternative preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 7 through 15. Almost all of the parts of the alternative preferred embodiment are the same as the parts of the preferred embodiment already described in detail and so only the parts of the altemative preferred embodiment which are unique thereto will be described.

The drive means 45 of the alternative preferred embodiment in addition to the electric motor 46, belt 49, sprockets 50, 52, interconnecting gears 56 and 57 and related parts also includes, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 12, a small sprocket 60 on bearing 53. As seen in FIG. 12, the small sprocket 60 is located adjacent the sprocket 52 and a pin 61 locks the two sprockets together.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a large sprocket 62 is mounted on the lower shaft 18' with a spacer 63 to align the sprocket 62 with the sprocket 60. A pin 64 locks the sprocket 62 and the spacer 63 together and a tongue 65 mates in a slot 66 in the lower interconnected gear 57. An individual torque-adjusting assembly 81 maintains the tongue 65 in the slot 66.

As best seen in FIG. 8, 10 and 13, second belt 69 passes around the larger sprocket 62 and the smaller sprocket 60 to rotate the larger sprocket 62 at a slower speed than the smaller sprocket 60.

The alternative preferred embodiment is also provided with a torque-transmitting means 70 which as best seen in FIG. 12 includes the clutch pads 71 mounted around the lower exit roller shaft 20'. The clutch pads 71 are located on either side of the roller drive means or the combination of sprocket 52 and small'sprocket 60 in the space between a radial flange 74 on the bearing 53 and the exit roller washer-shaped cap 72 to frictionally interconnect the sprocket 52 with the lower exit roller shaft 20' and the interconnected gears 56, 56' via a tongue 67 and slot 68.

The alternative embodiment of the improvement duplication apparatus 10 is also provided with torque control means which biases the exit roller washer-shaped cap 72 and the clutch pads 71 into frictional engagement with the roller drive means or sprocket 52 and small sprocket 60 to rotatively drive the exit roller shafts 20, 20' and exit rollers 21, 21. The speed of rotation of the exit rollers 21. 21' depends upon the amount of slippage that occurs between the clutch pads 71 and the surfaces which the pads 71 engage; the amount of slippage being controlled by an individual torque-adjusting assembly 81. To change the amount of slippage, the locknuts must be loosened or tightened to axially displace the spring seat 84 and decrease or increase respectively the biasing of the spring 8.5 acting on the exit roller washer-shaped cap 72.

Since the roller drive means or sprocket 52 and the small sprocket 60 are rotating faster than the larger sprocket 62 and the entry roller 19, 19' driven thereby, and yet the exit rollers 21, 21 frictional driven by the faster rotating sprockets 52 and 60 must rotate at the same speed as the entry rollers 19, 19', the clutch pads 71 must slip relative the surfaces they engage. The torque required to cause the slippage comes from the continuous strips 12 and 13 passing from between the entry rollers 19, 19 through the process zone 11 and between the exit rollers 21. 21'. The required torque causes a tension in the master continuous strip 22 and the second continuous strip 13 which is uniform and equalized therebetween to insure the required perfect contact and precise registry required for accurate duplication.

The alternative preferred embodiment of the improved duplication apparatus 10 includes overrunning clutch means between the exit roller shafts 20, 20' and the exit rollers 21, 21. The overrunning clutch means 140 as seen in FIGS. 12 and 15 includes upper and lower overrunning clutch permits an individual continuous strip 12 or 13 to be pulled relative to the other individual film strip, rotating the respective exit roller 20, 20 in the direction of its nonnal rotation to straighten any bight in the individual continuous strip bringing the strips 12 and 13 into contact with each other in precise registry.

Thus, both the preferred embodiment and the alternative preferred embodiment of the improved duplication apparatus maintain a balanced, adjustable tension on both an original continuous strip and the duplicate continuous strip as the two pass together through a process zone in perfect contact and precise registry. With such an improved duplication apparatus, a master continuous strip can be duplicated on a second continuous strip accuratelyv at a high rate of speed to quickly and easily produce copies of the master continuous strip for mass distribution.

I claim:

1. In a duplication apparatus for transferring information in a process zone from a master continuous strip to a duplicate continuous strip including a housing rotatably mounting a pair of shafts-supporting supply reels, a pair of shafts-carrying .entry rollers, a pair of shafts-carrying exit rollers, and a pair of shafts-supporting takeup reels, each continuous strip being initially wound on a respective supply reel to be pulled therefrom by one of said pairs of rollers to move through the process zone in precise registry where the transfer of information occurs, and then to be wound on a respective takeup reel, the improvement comprising:

means for rotatably driving said pair of takeup reel shafts, and at least one other pair of said pairs of roller shafts, at least one of said three last-mentioned pairs of shafts being interconnected with said drive means:

torque-transmitting means frictionally interconnecting said drive means and another one of said three last-mentioned pairs of shafts; and,

torque control means for varying the amount of torque transmitted to said pair of frictionally driven shafts so as to control the tension in said continuous strips as said strips are being drawnthrough said process zone, to be maintained thereby in precise registry.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said interconnected driven shafts carry at least one of said pairs of rollers, and said frictionally interconnected shafts carry the other of said pairs of rollers, said rotatable drive means rotating at a faster rotational speed than said other pair of rollers, and said torquetransmitting means slipping slightly, whereby a torque is transmitted to said torque-transmitting means to apply a constant tension to said continuous strips.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said interconnected driven shafts carry said entry rollers, said frictionally interconnected shafts carry said exit rollers, and said rotatable drive means rotates faster than said exit rollers.

4. The improvement as in claim 3 wherein individual drive means are provided for each pair of rollers, the individual drive means of one pair of rollers being connected to the individual drive means of the other pair of rollers, to provide the difference in rotatable speed between the drive means.

5. The improvement as in claim 2 wherein said frictionally driven shafts support said takeup reels, and said torque control means also equalizes the torque transmitted through said torque transmitting means to each of said takeup reels.

6. The improvement as in claim 5 wherein said torque control means includes a balance bar having opposite ends in bearing engagement with said torque-transmitting means, and an adjustable biasing spring for moving said balancing bar and said torque-transmitting means thereby evenly varying the torque transmitted through said torque-transmitting means.

7. The improvement of claim 1 additionally comprising supply torque-transmitting means resisting the torque applied to said pair of supply reel shafts to the tension in the continuous strips, and supply torque control means for simultaneously varying and equalizing the torque applied to 'the supply reel shafts.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the supply torquetransmitting means includes a relatively nonrotatable member, and said torque control means comprises a balance bar having opposite ends in bearing engagement with said nonrotatable members and an adjustable central spring assembly for moving said balance has and said relatively nonrotatable members thereby varying the torque transmitted through said torque-transmitting means.

9. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the torque-transmitting means is on the takeup reel shaft to frictionally drive the takeup reels, and the supply torque-transmitting means frictionally brakes the supply reels.

10 The improvement of claim 1 additionally comprising indicating means for said pairs of frictionally driven shafts for indicating the torque on said pairs of shafts so as to provide an indication of the tension in the continuous strips.

11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the indicating means includes:

a disc rotatably mounted on one of said pairs of frictionally driven shafts, said rotatable disc having torque transmitted thereto in varying amounts by the torque-transmitting means corresponding to the torque transmitted to the frictionally driven shafts,

Spring means biasing said rotatable disc to a first position, said disc being rotated by the torque applied thereto above a predetermined lower limit, and below a predetermined upper limit against the biasing of a spring means to a second position, and

switch means associated with said housing and operated by said rotation of said disc past said second position to indicate that the torque is being applied above the upper predetermined limit, thereby indicating too much tension in the continuous strips.

12. The improvement as in claim 11 wherein a second switch means is associated with said housing, said second switch means being operated by failure of the disc to be rotated by the torque supplied thereto to the second position to indicate that the torque applied thereto is below the predetermined lower limit, thereby indicating too little tension in the continuous strips.

13. The improvement as in claim 1 additionally comprising an overrunning clutch means between one roller and the corresponding shaft of one of said pairs of rollers, said overrunning clutch permitting the one roller to rotate relative the other roller of said one pair of rollers in its normal direction of rotation enabling a bight in one of the continuous strips to be removed, insuring the precise registry required of the strips.

14. The improvement as in claim 13 wherein the one pair of rollers are the exit rollers. 

1. In a duplication apparatus for transferring information in a process zone from a master continuous strip to a duplicate continuous strip including a housing rotatably mounting a pair of shafts-supporting supply reels, a pair of shafts-carrying entry rollers, a pair of shafts-carrying exit rollers, and a pair of shafts-supporting takeup reels, each continuous strip being initially wound on a respective supply reel to be pulled therefrom by one of said pairs of rollers to move through the process zone in precise registry where the transfer of information occurs, and then to be wound on a respective takeup reel, the improvement comprising: means for rotatably driving said pair of takeup reel shafts, and at least one other pair of said pairs of roller shafts, at least one of said three last-mentioned pairs of shafts being interconnected with said drive means: torque-transmitting means frictionally interconnecting said drive means and another one of said three last-mentioned pairs of shafts; and, torque control means for varying the amount of torque transmitted to said pair of frictionally driven shafts so as to control the tension in said continuous strips as said strips are being drawn through said process zone, to be maintained thereby in precise registry.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said interconnected driven shafts carry at least one of said pairs of rollers, and said frictionally interconnected shafts carry the other of said pairs of rollers, said rotatable drive means rotating at a faster rotational speed than said other pair of rollers, and said torque-transmitting means slipping slightly, whereby a torque is transmitted to said torque-transmitting means to apply a constant tension to said continuous strips.
 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said interconnected driven shafts carry said entry rollers, said frictionally interconnected shafts carry said exit rollers, and said rotatable drive means rotates faster than said exit rollers.
 4. The improvement as in claim 3 wherein individual drive means are provided for each pair of rollers, the individual drive means of one pair of rollers being connected to the individual drive means of the other pair of rollers, to provide the difference in rotatable speed between the drive means.
 5. The improvement as in claim 2 wherein said frictionally driven shafts support said takeup reels, and said torque control means also equalizes the torque transmitted through said torque transmitting means to each of said takeup reels.
 6. The improvement as in claim 5 wherein said torque control means includes a balance bar having opposite ends in bearing engagement with said torque-transmitting means, and an adjustable biasing spring for moving said balancing bar and said torque-transmitting means thereby evenly varying the torque transmitted through said torque-transmittinG means.
 7. The improvement of claim 1 additionally comprising supply torque-transmitting means resisting the torque applied to said pair of supply reel shafts to the tension in the continuous strips, and supply torque control means for simultaneously varying and equalizing the torque applied to the supply reel shafts.
 8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the supply torque-transmitting means includes a relatively nonrotatable member, and said torque control means comprises a balance bar having opposite ends in bearing engagement with said nonrotatable members and an adjustable central spring assembly for moving said balance bar and said relatively nonrotatable members thereby varying the torque transmitted through said torque-transmitting means.
 9. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the torque-transmitting means is on the takeup reel shaft to frictionally drive the takeup reels, and the supply torque-transmitting means frictionally brakes the supply reels. 10 The improvement of claim 1 additionally comprising indicating means for said pairs of frictionally driven shafts for indicating the torque on said pairs of shafts so as to provide an indication of the tension in the continuous strips.
 11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the indicating means includes: a disc rotatably mounted on one of said pairs of frictionally driven shafts, said rotatable disc having torque transmitted thereto in varying amounts by the torque-transmitting means corresponding to the torque transmitted to the frictionally driven shafts, spring means biasing said rotatable disc to a first position, said disc being rotated by the torque applied thereto above a predetermined lower limit, and below a predetermined upper limit against the biasing of a spring means to a second position, and switch means associated with said housing and operated by said rotation of said disc past said second position to indicate that the torque is being applied above the upper predetermined limit, thereby indicating too much tension in the continuous strips.
 12. The improvement as in claim 11 wherein a second switch means is associated with said housing, said second switch means being operated by failure of the disc to be rotated by the torque supplied thereto to the second position to indicate that the torque applied thereto is below the predetermined lower limit, thereby indicating too little tension in the continuous strips.
 13. The improvement as in claim 1 additionally comprising an overrunning clutch means between one roller and the corresponding shaft of one of said pairs of rollers, said overrunning clutch permitting the one roller to rotate relative the other roller of said one pair of rollers in its normal direction of rotation enabling a bight in one of the continuous strips to be removed, insuring the precise registry required of the strips.
 14. The improvement as in claim 13 wherein the one pair of rollers are the exit rollers. 